“For many Filipinos, microplastics, plastics, when you go to the communities, the problem is very abstract to them. Sasabihin lang nila ‘ano ba sila?’ Pero pag hindi natin kasi nakikita ang koneksyon sa atin, we also don’t care. And when we don’t care, we do nothing.”

This is according to Dr. Deo Florence L. Onda, Balik-Scientist, during a forum on Plastics and Microplastics in Marine Environment, wherein he explained the importance of people’s participation in gathering local data, and the importance of telling the people stories about those data.

The microplastics researchers are determined for their research to not end up rotting in the shelves. They espoused that research should serve the people and the only way that researchers could connect to the people is for the public to also know their stories.

Onda believes that one of the great obligations of scientists is not just to do research, but to actually tell stories that would relate to people. Researchers should extract information, translate them into data, but at the end of the day, make a story out of them and tell them to the people who will benefit from them. 

Through the stories derived from the data gathered, the Filipinos would know how plastics are affecting them in terms of their health, food security, environment and their general welfare. 

One of the outcomes from this microplastic research project is a facility, the MicroQUIB – Microplastics Quantification Identification and Biodegradation Facility – which was built for microplastics researchers who collect samples, but do not have this type of facility in their own university. MicroQUIB is an all-complete facility dedicated to research and training housed at the Marine Laboratory of the University of the Philippines- Marine Science Institute located in Bolinao, Pangasinan.

Since there is a need for more people to do the work on the ground, the other component of the project is the development of training programs targeting the academics, and those who are working in the universities, and also those from the national government agencies, such as the national coastguard, as well as plastic research enthusiasts. 

One of the beneficiaries of the training program is from a university in Davao City who is now capable of teaching others. 

“Training programs like these are very important kasi hindi mo lang nilalagyan ng band-aid solution yung problema, nag-iinvest ka actually sa isang tao na who can pass it on to other people and to the next generation and it’s paying it forward,” the teacher beneficiary said.

These training programs also allow them to do surveys and contribute to data generation. So far, over 50 people were trained who can now do plastics, microplastics, and macroplastics in their locality. 

“We always believe there’s not, there’s no monopoly of science. We need to decentralize experts, and as more people do their work on the ground, we understand the issue better, so we can actually come up with solutions that are more long lasting, more appropriate, and actually sustainable,” Onda pointed out. 

The research on Plastic and Microplastics in Marine Environment, funded by the Department of Science and Technology- National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP), was one of the webinars conducted during the celebration of the 2022 National Science and Technology Week held at the World Trade Center from November 23-27, 2022, with the theme “Agham at Teknolohiya: Kabalikat sa Maunlad at Matatag na Kinabukasan”. This webinar also focused on the importance of protecting our environment for sustainability which, incidentally, is one of the thrusts of the current DOST administration, aside from wealth creation, wealth protection, and human well-being. (30)   (Geraldine Bulaon-Ducusin, S&T Media Service)

(Photo screen-grabbed from the National Science and Technology Week’s webinar on Plastics and Microplastics in Marine Environment) Dr. Deo Florence L. Onda, Balik-Scientist said, “Sa Pilipinas kasi mahilig tayo mag copy-paste. Kung ano yung nag work sa isa, kokopyahin natin. Without understanding why it actually worked in another area and might not work in one locality.”